Keene State Baseball headed to Plymouth State University on Friday, May 2, where it picked up two wins in a doubleheader for the Owls’ last game of the season.
The Owls started off the top of the inning at the plate and failed to make any mark as the first two batters struck out. The Panthers also failed to make a dent in the scoreboard and the game was scoreless after the first.
At the top of the second, junior first baseman Jonathan Chatfield sent a pitch over the fence and homered to right field for the lead-off homerun. Two flyouts and a ground out would complete the top of the second and leave the Owls up 1-0.
The Owls defense negated a response in the bottom of the inning and junior pitcher Jake Jachym picked up a strikeout.
The third, fourth and fifth innings were scoreless as KSC’s defense stepped up and ended all innings with runners on base. The Owls’ offense could not get much going, as they failed to get many hits and struck out several times.
At the bottom of the sixth with KSC still up 1-0, Jachym grabbed two more strikeouts and forced a pop-out to end the inning.
The top of the seventh began and KSC immediately had a runner on base off of a single, and sophomore outfielder Ethan Rainha doubled into center field and sent the runner home for an RBI and another run on the board. Rainha advanced to third after a batter flew out and first-year Anthony DiGiacomo singled into right to send Rainha home to grab a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, PSU finally had something to respond with. After a double to left and the runner advanced to third, the Panthers were in prime scoring position. The Panther’s next batter lined out and left runners on base to remain scoreless going into the eighth inning.
The Owls did not capitalize on their opportunity to extend the lead in the eighth, and PSU took advantage of the opportunity in the bottom of the inning. The Panthers got the bats going and landed a few runners on base. After a few hits they were able to send two runners home and bring the deficit to one going into the final inning.
PSU brought in its closer in the ninth but KSC caught the new pitcher off guard and was able to add a run at the top of the inning. With a chance to walk-off the game in the bottom of the ninth, PSU added a run to the board and brought the game to a one run deficit. The Owls put in senior closer Liam Conley who struck out the last batter with runners in scoring position and gave Keene State the 4-3 win.
The second game began with junior catcher Evan Cali stepping up as the lead-off hitter, where he was walked. Cali stole second and after a flyout the junior was able to advance to third. Chatfield also walked in the first and eventually stole second. PSU’s catcher decided to throw out Chatfield at second and Cali took the opportunity and sprinted towards home and was safe. The Owls grabbed the 1-0 lead in the top of the first which put PSU on their heels quickly.
In the bottom of the first, senior captain Shea Zina struck two batters out and forced a flyout to end the inning.
The second inning was scoreless for both sides although Zina was able to grab another “K.”
The lead-off batter grounded out at the top of the third which led to Cali stepping up to the plate and crushing a homerun over the right field fence. Junior Evan McCue was walked and eventually stole second after a passed ball when junior outfielder Tommy Ahlers cranked a home run down the line to send McCue and himself home to give the Owls a 4-0 lead. Chatfield and Rainha were the next two batters in the third inning, and both were able to get on base.
With two runners on, junior infielder Otis Follet stepped up to the plate and hammered a double into right center and Rainha and Chatfield headed home to extend the Owl’s lead to six runs.
With Follet on second, first-year outfielder Domminic Tagliaferro singled into left and sent Follet home. In the third inning Keene State was able to score six runs and leave the score at 7-1.
The Panthers had to respond and in fact did just that but only adding a single run in the bottom of the inning.
Leading off in the fourth was Ahlers who singled, and eventually reached third after a Chatfield single. Rainha fouled out but Ahlers was able to make it home and add another tally to the scoreboard. Chatfield also scored in the inning after a single by Tagliaferro and the top of the fourth ended with KSC up 9-1.
With a large deficit to battle back from, PSU failed to answer in the bottom of the inning and the score remained 9-1.
Cali led off in the fifth inning and blasted a lead-off double down the right field foul line. A passed ball allowed Cali to steal third and an Ahlers single sent him home and sent the Owls to double digits. With Chatfield and Ahlers on base, Rainha stepped up and sent a double into left which allowed for both runners to head home.
PSU failed again to mount any runs in response and the fifth inning ended with Keene State up 12-1. The sixth inning was scoreless for both sides which meant the mercy rule came into play. If a team is down by 10 or more runs after seven innings, the mercy rule is applied and the game is ended.
KSC scored a run at the top of the inning and PSU was unable to overcome the mercy rule and the game finished in the seventh inning with the Owls winning 13-1.
The team will prepare for playoffs, and the playoffs will be played at the Owl Athletic Complex for all Little East Conference teams.
Jacob Enscoe can be contacted at
jenscoe@kscequinox.com
